Yonkers Raceway's pair of Ides of March, $35,000 co-featured Open Handicaps--for trotters along with petite pacers--were won by Calchips Brute (George Brennan, $12.40) and a season-debuting Krispy Apple (Matt Kakaley, $29.20).
Calchips Brute gave nothing else a shot. Leaving from penultimate post position No. 6, he worked around Political Desire (Jim Pantaleano) before a snappy :27.4 opening quarter-mile. After a :58.2 intermission, 8-5 favourite Affirmed Action (Jason Bartlett), who had tucked into a four-hole, was on the prowl.
However, he never came close to the leader going toward the 1:27 three-quarters. It was Calchips Brute taking a two length lead into the lane, then winning by an unpressured length in a season's-best 1:55.3. Second went to Political Desire, with Sugar Queen Gabby (Brian Sears) a three-hole third. Big Sky Storm (Jordan Stratton) and a tiring Affirmed Action rounded out the payees.
For third-choice Calchips Brute, a seven-year-old homebred son of Credit Winner owned by Diane Giuliano and trained by Trond Smedshammer, it was his third win seven seasonal starts (career earnings now over $908,000). The exacta paid $77, with the triple returning $318.
The winner--way back when--was third (to Judge Joe) in the 2009 Yonkers Trot and was also a standout New York Sire Stakes performer.
The weekly distaff derby saw Krispy Apple, prepping for the upcoming Blue Chip Matchmaker in her first purse try since late November, roll from third-over.
Unhurried from post No. 7, she languished early while 7-5 fave Moonlit Dragon (Sears) put up intervals of :27 and :56.1. Queen Of Royalty (Brent Holland) was pocketed while Docs Hop (Cat Manzi), crossing the border, came first-up. That one methodically advanced toward the 1:24.1 three-quarters, with Maries Z Tam (Brennan) second-over.
Moonlit Dragon owned a length and a quarter lead turning for home, but could not close the sale. 'Marie' went by 'Moonlit,' but Krispy Apple went by 'em both, prevailing by a half-length in 1:53. Maries Z Tam settled for second, with Moonlit Dragon, Docs Hope and Summer Snow (Larry Stalbaum) grabbing the small change.
For fourth choice Krispy Apple, a five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal co-owned by Bamond Racing and Joseph Davino and trained by PJ Fraley, her career resume is just under $820,000. The exacta paid $115, the triple returned $300.50 and the superfecta paid $1,254.
Friday's card also included the largest local exacta payoff of the season. The $26,000 seventh race trot had 30-1 Free Rollin (Stratton, $62) and 26-1 Master Pine (Pantaleano) combining for a $1,089 payoff.
(Yonkers Raceway)